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stevetuba.co.uk
Days in the life of a Curmudgeon...2007.
Velence...July 13th 2007. Free again! The beginning of Phase VIII. Ernesto playing in the background...ok... loud! Ernesto Lecouna ...ahhhhhh. It was my theme music back in ‘94...when I went on a supposedly 6-month sabbatical that has lasted up to this day. I would play the same five or six tracks repeatedly while I read in the early morning. It meant...new...a new beginning...an end. It feels good. To my left is a view of the lake. Velence, HU Land. All I need now is a proper drink. Lots to say. Rod Stewart...now...Setting things up...Seals and Croft...Summer Breeze. Wish I could have brought that bottle of Kahluah back from UK Land...it would go good right now. Should take a buzz up the street and see what they have...Simon & Garfunkle...Homeward Bound...Late In The Evening...I thought the video was good too. Now...Tino Rossi...J’Attendrai...as I skim Shaw’s Pygmalion...which I’d tossed it in with other important papers...and am now sorting through. By Sunday, I should be settled into my new digs. Re-read an old email from Larry Johnson...an acquaintance from my photography days...wherein he asks what will happen to my web pages once I stop paying for the website...as in...they...“the stories should be preserved...forever”. Thanks dude...made my day! Oh...there is one more “Photography Years” page “in the can”. I will look and see if it is truly ready to publish. Right now, I have a few higher priorities...hopefully not for long. In addition, I need to get my head screwed on again. It’s only been a few weeks that I was here...53 days...the last time and took more than a few thousand frames...twice that many! This time I have the Nikon 300 2 8...it’s heavier than I had remembered...or I’m weaker. Springsteen...Dancing In The Dark... Velence...July 15th 2007. New digs day plus one. First night here. It’s bloody hot. Temps in the low 30s. I was on the lakeshore at 0515hrs. The sun was just coming up. Two hours later Bela was not on the lake yet. I did see him from the house about 10 minutes later...and took a few frames. He had said yesterday that he would get a little fishing in today...and I was hoping to get some close shots of him...but had to settle for long shots...with the D70. The D200 was inop while I pulled the mornings shots onto the computer. Yesterday evening I showed Cila and Anci Jupiter and its moons using the 11x80 binoculars. Today I plan to bring over the 1200mm telescope for a real view. The house is a disaster area littered with my stuff. I have some work to do getting it all straightened out. Later in the day: I am listening to music I had heard over 55 years ago...originally as 78s. The music brings to mind a simpler...innocent time. To be back where my life started...and trying to imagine what life was like here is a bittersweet experience filled with emotional highs and lows. With both parents now dead...I have only the remembrances of relatives. Some of the locations are as they were 90 years ago. The post office building that my mother worked in is still standing...though in disrepair. The house my father grew up in is still there. In fact, the house I am in is on the same lot. Just finished McNab’s Remote Control. I had bought a bunch of books at the local thrift shop at the Triangle (Berrylands UK) so I would not run out of English reading material...which I’d forgotten too the last time I was here. Three down...four to go. Heller’s Catch-22...Simon Winchester’s The Map That Changed The World...Stephen Jay Gould’s Wonderful Life...and Bernard Cornwell’s the Grail Quest. Gads...I am going to run out of books! BC also wrote the Sharpe series...which I‘ve read when I have found them. On the other hand...all my books are here...so some rereads are in the future I think. My friend Greg (Everett, WA, USA) will laugh when he reads that I am spending some time bicycling back and forth as my mode of quick transport. I bring it up because some time soon I will need to go to Anci’s and arrange for transport of the scope and an electric fan. It was excessively hot last night...should have thought of it before. Velence...July 17th 2007. Just setup the laser printer...working. Paper face down. I went to the lakeshore this morning...a few shots...nothing to write home about. It’s a 4-minute walk. Took the Nikon 300 2 8...on the big Slik...heavy! It is going to be another hot day...maybe 40C plus! Went grocery shopping yesterday with Jutka. Spent 27,935 Forint. That’s $151. Velence...July 18th 2007. Well...it’s another scorching day in HU Land. Could reach 40C! It’s 8 degrees cooler in the house...but I think my AC unit could increase that a bit...just don’t know where to vent it. Yesterday I printed a few A3 prints. Not bad. Pityu showed up while I was out in the street shooting the Moon and Venus. Talk awhile arguing the merits of daylight savings...and looked at Jupiter through the binoculars. Velence...July 20th 2007. Yesterday cousin Jutka called and came over with food. Later I asked if she was up for a trip to cousin Anci’s to pick up my Helios 1200mm f/8 telescope. Had to make two trips because I forgot a major component...and then this morning I went there to find a few more. It is now setup ready for a night’s astronomy. Jupiter and the moon favorable. I’d be out there right now except for the heat! I did manage to show her Jupiter...the moon having almost set by the time I was setup...short the motor drive power supply and controller...and the finder scope. Still missing is the accessory tray...which may well be in plain sight...but I wasn’t looking for it at the time. I’ve swapped out the UK plug for HU. And now there are hazy clouds. Gads! It’s tomorrow...Jutka and Agnes...Pityu was already here...looked at both targets...a few photos...later...as in now...a few prints. Velence...July 23rd 2007. Do not misunderstand...I am not looking for famous ancestry...just the facts. It’s nothing to find records dating back 300 years. The trail is now moving to Sukoro...the next village over to the west around the northern part of Lake Velence. The last record here in the church is a birth of one Tuba Samu (Samuel Tuba) dated 1687. In the book...Varos Volt, Varos Lett...(A city it Was, A City it Became.)(ISBN 963 7843 965)...wherein a 1720 census lists 43 males...females and male children under 17 were not counted...one of which was Samu...aged 33 at the time. No other Tuba name is listed...hence his father...if alive at the time...would be from other parts...leading next to Sukoro on some authority. It will be into November when the expedition is to be mounted. The heat wave continues! The mornings have been cool enough...but then watch out! I’ve been without internet access since I moved into my new digs. I could...and may well do so...take the laptop back to Jutka’s for a quick connect. Wednesday I will see about a broadband connection...and wait 10 day to get it done! I need to bring over a few more items from Anci’s. It’s just too damn hot. I need to get “the” tape from Jutka. I may be able to transcribe it onto a CD. That will be a good thing...a minor loop closed. Velence...July 24th 2007. Up at 0500 hrs. On the shore sometime later. Nothing to write home about. Printed a moon shoot. Tomorrow will take care of some business re HU citizenship papers. And see about BB hookup. Was just out in the sun...Damn!!!! It literally burns! “A” called Jutka yesterday(?). Funny! BS. Nothing on my car except that, she is down to one car. Random thought: I would like to have seen Ann Landers on stage with the Beach Boys...singing the chorus of “Help Me Ronda“. Let’s see... Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help...yeah...Help me Ronda Later Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help...yeah...Help me Ronda Production notes: A bit of swaying would be ok on her part. News Flash...Metropolis: Superman has reported his wallet lost...He described it as blue and red...with a big “S”. When asked about its contents and what was his greatest loss...Superman is quoted as saying...”Well Lois...that would be my Lucky Gold Card“. (Grocery store chain.) Sources close to the case report that the loss occurred during an unusually difficult kitten in tree extraction. For that matter...Barbara Walters...AKA...Baba Wawa On stage singing the chorus to Barbara Ann. Broke down the Helios 1200mm scope. Next I’ll dig out the “Orange Tube“ Celestron C8, 2000mm...and take it for a spin. Velence...July 25th 2007. BB is up and running...at last. A few things to take care of. Velence...July 27th 2007. Took care of one thing. The car remains a problem. It’s still in UK Land. It’s hot again...though it has been worse. Seels & Croft in the background...loud...S&G...too. Got a great email from SSGT Jarvis (USAF) stationed on the Rock. In part: “...Anyway just wanted to write you and tell you how entertained and amused I was with your stories, and if they are true, you have lived a life of ages and I am glad to have been apart if them...Just by reading...(them). Made my month. Thanks dude. Mongo Jerry...In The Summer Time........... Time to introduce... The local cast of characters: Cousins: Jutka (Julianna) (F) The self proclaimed director of...things!...OK all things. Keeper of the graves. Bela (M) The Wine Master. And last word in most cases. Sp. Sari Cila (Terez) (F) The family historian...and keeper of the tree. Sp. Istvan Pityu (Istvan) (M) The confirmed bachelor...claims that he will live to an age of 120. And Wine Master’s assistant. Anci (Anna) (F) Sp. Lajos Wine Master’s assistant. Daughters Nikolett and Anita More later on the cast. Had to turn the fan on...that’s better. Clouds to the north...things may get better. So far the heat wave has caused 500 deaths here in HU Land. Amazingly, three of the four radio controlled clocks I have, have achieved contact with Rubgy England’s time transmissions...and are running true. I will need to dig out the last clock when again at Anci’s. I’m in no position, as of now, to firing up the Rubidium frequency standard...and the associated clocks. Sad, but nothing I can do about it...perhaps at a later time and place. One can dream...no? I do plan to bring over the Kenwood R-2000 and the AOR R-3000. Perhaps a handheld or two. Proper antennas will be a problem...nothing close nor tall enough to string a bit of wire to...though I did think to bring a spool of wire. I look forward to some SWL...and to see what the Italians are up to re slow scan TV. The AOR’s power cube has gone AWOL...and will need to dug out! What a pain. Forgot to ask Jutka for “the tape”. I’m reminded because in the background I’ve got “O Maiden, My Maiden” from Friederike playing on repeat. Melancholy...stuff. I’m out of anything to drink...again...at a times like this. But the weather is not the best...for this sort of thing either. It should be cold and brooding...stormy...dark...scudding clouds...a weak sunset. Or...for that matter...a glorious sunny...though not hot...day...sometime in the afternoon...the sound of birds singing...a tranquil setting...with a view...alone...thinking of other times and places...the misguided hopes of youth...the forks in a road. What would have happened had I turned left...what happened to others because I turned away? What could have happened had I not? This bring to mind a story that’s been haunting me for some many years. I don’t want to make this sound like a wish...that things had been different...but just...what if? The whole thing could have turned on a single word...a gesture...a look. It could have been so simple a thing...looking back now so long ago. I was 16...1960. My buddy Roy and I ended up at this house on 34th Ave. South. It was...on the east side of the street...the house that’s on the north side of the break in houses that gives entry onto Colman Park along 34th South. I don’t remember the reason the we were there...but Roy would have been the one that knew for sure. I also don’t remember if Sue’s name came up...or was it just a girl. The occupants of the house were the Father, the daughter (Susan) and a guy that I thinks was boarding there. His name was Ryan. I seem to think that the first time we were there...Susan was not. We ended up talking to the Father and Ryan...I remember thinking that there was some BS involved regarding their involvement in WWII...as in being in the Rangers...blah...blah...blah. That’s US Army Rangers...tough guys true. Anyway I think Ryan was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America and Roy was one. Sometime later Roy and I go back again. This time Susan make her appearance. GADS! She was STUNNINGLY beautiful! Blond...perfect body. Gorgeous face. In 2002...I was back in Seattle visiting the OM (Old Man, my Father). He was living the same house that I grew up in...the same old neighborhood...though seeming smaller. Wondering around the area brought me subconsciously back to “the” house. The house on 34th Ave. South. It seemed that there was no one about. I thought about knocking on the door...and what?...asking for Susan? It seemed silly. And so it was...I never did do it. Not after forty year...what where the odds that she would still be there. Thoughts of “Great Expectations” popped into my mind. Crazy! So there we were this time with Susan and she suggested playing cards...Hearts. An appropriate game considering where this story is going. Well...I didn’t know how to play Hearts. Well...not a problem...she would teach me...she says...OK by me. And so it went...playing card on the floor with GORGEOUS Susan...no one else playing mattered. Now...again sometime later I’m there alone...that is...this time without Roy. I don’t remember how it came about...but it must have been...because when it came time for me to leave...and we’d been talking up a storm...she started to walk me home in early twilight...and Roy was not there. We got a few blocks...and I walked her back...talking about what I don’t remember...it didn’t matter. She was about to walk me all the way home...but her father nixed it...and like the gallant knight...I agreed! SHE LIKED ME. GADS! As in REALY. But... That was the last time I ever saw her...in the flesh. There I was 16...and not knowing a thing about girls. I liked them a lot...Though I was not sure what you did with one. But I did know a thing or two about sports. In grade school we played various ball games. One was a bizarre version of Baseball. What made it so was the ball itself. Not a real baseball but what turned out to the bladders of basketballs...just a big rubber ball. Anyway...I never did understand the rules of the game...except for one thing...and that was that if you hit the ball hard enough...you got to run all the way around the bases...and everyone on your side cheered. So in my mind...anything short of a home run...was not an option! No getting to first base...nor second base...etc...not for this kid. Always go for the home run...that was my motto. By this time I’d heard a lot of jokes and guys talking about girls...I re-told some myself but I sure as hell didn’t know what I was talking about. All a real waste of time. Anyway...there was the baseball metaphor of getting to various bases...first, second, third...and of course HOME PLATE!...whatever that meant. So there I was minding my own business...when out of the blue I get a phone call. Now that I think of it...how did she...where did she...who? It was GORGEOUS Susan! GADS! Now fortified with a bottle of local (Nadap) Rajnai Rizling...chilled...I continue. She cut to the chase. Asked me if I’d like to accompany her to her school’s dance. I think she attended a Catholic school...otherwise she’d have gone to the same school(s) as Roy and I. Anyway...there we were. Here we are at the fork in the road! You don’t even know that that’s where you are for real. A REAL BLOODY fork in the road. Panic! You know you can’t go. What do you say? Think of something! It should be believable...let her off easy as it were. Don’t think of yourself...think of her feelings. Don’t think about what will happen as a result of what you are about to do. Don’t think about the future...think now. Lie if you have to...but make it plausible! It never occurred to me what the outcome of what was about to happen would be. Never. How could I? A bit of a buzz...thank you very much... I can just imagine the scene at the other end of the line...“Will it be a yes... I hope...I know he likes me...and I think he knows that I like him!” I weep at thought...after all these years. I felt cornered...no way out...I had to make up something. I couldn’t just tell the truth...too embarrassed to tell. Time for a smoke break...gather my thoughts...back in 5. In 2004 the OM died! I headed back to Seattle from London UK Land. The task of figuring out the disposition of all my stuff stored there after moving to California then England was overwhelming. My friend Bill Bayliss came to my aid and things got sorted out...sort of. I don’t remember the force that compelled me to drive north on 34th Ave. South one day...but it did...Just a last look at “The House”. The house looked as though no one lived there. The grass was over grown. There were leaves piled up in the corners. There needed to be some painting done on the exterior woodwork. Great Expectations! Should I get out of the car and ring the bloody bell. Hell there’s no one home...why bother. There couldn’t be! There couldn’t be anyone...look at the place... Take your bloody photo and leave...I do. Your last photo...so that when you look at it at some future time...you’ll think the same old thoughts...WHY didn’t you at least try the door bell? Now...or the time before? What a fool you are/were! The bottom line is that...short of a miracle...I’ll never know what happened...after that phone call. I never heard from her again. Time for another...BI5... That was forty seven years ago! (2007) The truth is that I couldn’t have handled it...plain and simple. When my “time” did come...years later...it was a home run...first time out. There we have it... the fork in the road. I can think of no other fork that I encountered since that in looking back now...having the same impact...as GORGEOUS Susan in the HOUSE on 34th Ave. South. Time for another...BI5... Perhaps it’s because it died on the vine. Poignant...I guess...summing it up. Was it never meant to be? Was it a true fork? I don’t know the answer. Does it matter? I don’t know the answer to that either. Sigh. It‘s said that the OM was to have married someone else other than the OL (Old Lady, my Mother). And...wait for it...that the one he was to marry went into a convent as a result. A little too far out there for my way of thinking...but I can’t prove it otherwise. Sue...Miss Havisham...who knows. I do know that I wish that I’d have been...what(?)...real...I guess. If she’d have asked for almost any other first date. A walk in the park...down by the lake...in daylight...no time restraints...take all day...talk...pick daisies...hell...anything...just to be with her. I wasn’t rejecting her...I was rejecting myself...for her. I know for sure that had it not ended as it did...I would have gotten both of us into real trouble! Oh Maiden, My Maiden... Time for another...BI5... Well...such is life. There are more unknowns than you can imagine. Sometime later...like my junior year...would find me in the back seat of Patton’s car...with a girl in my lap. How I got there and why me...I don’t know. Margaret...Patton’s girlfriend in the front...this other girl in my lap in back. She...the girl in my lap says...at one point...that I sure “know a lot”...gads...all I did was have my hand on her knee...ok just a bit higher. Gees...I didn’t know what I was doing. Next thing I know...they...the two girls are planting kisses on me. Sue from the front seat...climbing over...and the girl in my lap. This was at a time before smear-less lipstick...I had no idea what was going on...but it was the girls idea to plaster my face with lipstick. A victim...I guess. I think the other girls in my class thought I was aloof. They would have seen these two senior girls fawning...taking liberties...over me after school...just outside the main doors. I don’t think they could figure me out. Then there was the day! Must have been my senior year...at Husky Stadium...at a city wide track meet. Track didn’t attract much attention period...much less cheerleaders etc. But on this day...there they were. Not cheer leading...but there non the less. I think it was after my second event...the third leg of the mile relay. We got the Silver Medal...Anyway...I was just standing there next to this other guy talking...minding my own business...when a voice rings out...blah...blah...blah. I can’t understand a word. I ask the guy I’d been talking to what it was she...the voice wanted? WELL GADS...she wanted my sweatpants. Note: Get some bottles of wine on stock. It was Barbara S. as I recall...She’d never spoken to me before...and she was in fact a cheerleader. Again...what to do? It would have meant a meeting afterwards...OH! It was a bit chilly that day. Was it me...or would anyone have done? Not a simple equation to solve...in my mind. Then there was the moat. My luck...had I tried to throw it...it could have landed in the dry moat. She wouldn’t have gotten what she wanted...what ever that was...really. I would have to go and retrieve it some how...etc. etc. Where would that fork have taken things? I mean...there we are after the fact...and...”thanks for the sweatpants”...giggle...giggle...it was really cold...OR...I really loved putting on your sweats...here take my panties? Another fork in the road. Oh...I didn’t throw them to her. Sometimes I was just way too logical. I mean if anyone else would have done...then let it be another. Down to the last short half glass of wine. Then there was Roger. Roger was my nemesis for all practical purposes. We were both on the varsity football and track teams. We were also in the same photography class that senior year...where I was a student leader for half the class...old Roger ending up in mine. So...there we are one day...close to the end of term...when Roger says to me that “I had better give him an A.” Professor Petite had told the class that the student leaders would be grading the individuals in their charge. Well....old Roger took this state of affairs pretty serious. On the track field...shot put...the hundred yard dash...Roger would always win...by a short distance. That distance was whatever he gained on me at the very start. Once out of the blocks...he never got further ahead...just that short distance. It the shot put...one day I bettered his distance by a fraction. He was beside himself. Loved it. Last of the wine...gone. Time for another...BI5... Ha! The fact was the we had a number of shots...some iron...and some brass...but there was one that was all beat to hell...and suspected of being under weight...though never measured as such. It was with that shot that I beat old Rog. In my junior year I didn’t go out for football. I thought my grades needed to improve...hence no sports. Though...as it would turn out I was able to get my gym class as the last class of the day. And instead of participating in the normal class activity...I ask to be allowed to take a shot out and practice for the hours class. Granted. So there I’d be out in the rains of autumn and fall putting the shot while the varsity football team practiced. In my 1961 class annual there are a number of entries by my friends wishing me well and hoping that I would beat Roger the coming year. The word had gotten out that I was out there in the rain and all that. There is one other thing. I now know as fact that there are differing body types. No amount of training...or inspirational speeches by coaches...whatever...can change the fact that your body is just not the right type to ever succeed at a winning performance. It’s a matter of slow twitch, fast twitch muscles. Roger was fast twitch...I slow. Not a chance in hell did I have. So anyway here is old Rog TELLING me that I had better give him an “A”. I mean what...he’s going into Rocket science...Thermonuclear physics...Brain surgery...Corporate law...Astrophysics...Biochemistry...Palaeontology...an Astronaut ...NO...Don’t tell me...it’s PE...Physical Education! A bloody coach! From a junior collage no less. And I had better give him an “A”? It just goes to show! He could have thought...“hey...Tuba’s a straight shooter...I behave and he gives me an A.” But no...instead...“Tuba hates my guts and will try and get back at me.“ Like what...is that what he’d have done? The funny thing was that in the end I don’t know what he got for a grade. But he did go on to being a coach...at a high school. Way to go Rog. Entry dated Dec 9, 2007: There had been some sort of AAU sanctioned track meet right there at Franklin High School...and one thing that made it interesting was that...unlike the normal varsity track and field event that we were able to participate in...this one had the discus and javelin in addition to all the other events! To make a long story short...I took the first place ribbons in those two events...beating ol’ Roger. It’s interesting how some of the girls that were the cat’s meow in grade school turned into also-ran’s by the time they reached high school. And the one’s that were ok...but no big deals turning into real babes. Kathy K. was one such of the latter. Not that I didn’t think she was cute in grade school. Time to pull the big switch. More today...but later. It’s the 28th...early. Velence...July 28th 2007. I remember her in high school...senior year. Gads...a babe. 35 years later I saw that she appeared to be living alone...correct me if I’m wrong. What happened? Just goes to show that everybody has a story. It’s partly sunny on Lake Velence, HU Land. The prospect of rain is low...but the area could use a few days of gentle rain. The grapes are suffering. What to write about next...? The place is a disaster area...and needs a bit of attention. Done deal. I have to ask Pityu to show me his coin collection. As I understand it he has some Roman coins. Velence goes back to Roman times and naturally farther...but without benefit of records. There was a Roman road that leads to Szekesfehervar...Feharvar for short...(the white fort) which is now covered by the M7. Sometime back I talked to a fisherman who’d told me about some Roman coins he’d found as a child. Velence is between Feharvar and Budapest...the main drag as it were. There are of course Roman ruins around the entire area. Reading into Pygmalion...GADS! I’d put the open book face down on the desk...the back cover showing. I’d looked at the picture of Shaw more than once...and mistook it for something other than a photograph...Then...I noticed the photo credit...Karsh!...Karsh of Ottawa! Blow me down...sink me. Anyway...Eliza is in the bath. Gads! The date published is 1956...6 years after his death. GADS!...the copyright date is 1916. Shaw was born one year befor the date of the coin I’d found while walking home from grade school...1856. Well there we have it...Pygmalion...read. Most interseting. I enjoyed his Caesar and Cleopatra...on film...staring Vivian Leagh as a young Cleo. Pityu has dropped by with a quarter watermelon...and an invitaion to joim him and Istvan tomorrow morning. The destination is to be the Skeleton Field. The name comes from the fact that the Turks had left a few bodies behind...the last time they were in the area...courtesy the Hungarians. Forgot to ask about his coins! Damn! Where was I? Oh...I felt compelled to find the photos of “the” house. Found it the last place I looked. AND...another photo I’d been looking for. That was a photo of a two page spread in National Geographic (Society) Magazine...dated January 2002. This took place the same time as the house photo. The OM subscribed to NGSM and a few were laying about. So now and then I’d go through them front to back...issue by issue. A few pages into one issue the headline reads...”Un-looted Tomb Revealed”...on the next line...wait for it...”Syrian site may be the lost city of Tuba”! Gads!...I thought at the time. The short piece went on the state that the site was believed to the location of the lost city of Tuba, west of the Euphrates, Tuba was the capital of a kingdom centered on the trade route between Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and the Mediterranean...c 2400 BC. Well now...I’ve always had problems with the fact that the word “tuba” has no real meaning in Magyar (Hungarian). Unless it was a name of a place...a city perhaps. It’s not a stretch. It was common in the past to have a name that in effect said you were...say...Leonard from/of Vinci...or say...Charles from/of Gaulle. Leonardo De Vinci...and Charles De Gaulle respectively. The Magyar tribes weren’t so formal. There are of course the same usual Smiths, Bakers, Black, Small, Big...in effect what you were or did. Another one comes to mind...Nameth...German...as in Joe “Broadway Joe” Nameth. Also I know of no convention...common in Scandinavia...of a name saying in effect...“the son of“...Johansson...etc. I think that these convention are old...going back to those times when a son was named for his father...or as I’ve said...what you did. One problem has to do with the fact that every village would have a Smith...a Baker...Butcher...un-related to another Smith or Baker or Butchers in a village only a mile away. Another problem with “the son of” scheme is that it only works for one generation...else you’d have name like Johanssonsonson... The “from” scheme has the same problem...Except that there would have been a first “from“. I also think that a name based on “from” might have been a name someone else gave you...”Oh...You’re the one from Blah Balh.” And henceforth called Blah. Then...get this. Another convention that was new to me is wherein a fore word is used...prefixing not a name but noun...as Papa. It’s used in place of a given name...to differentiate between two or more “Papas” for example. Two come to mind that I’ve heard...Juice Papa...and Dollar Papa. Those that knew...knew. In the same way...once a name was given...those that knew...knew...and the others would have to learn...the story behind the name. In the context of being give a name based on were they came from...it’s the same. That guy over there named Tuba...came from Tuba. “You’re a long way from Tuba...Tuba...Hah hah hah. It’s a convention that had been used in the old wild west...if you believe the Hollywood westerns. Hey...Kansas, Frisco, Montana, Tex(as), Durango...etc. In naming someone it’s only necessary for those that need to know...who’s who. On the Tuba Family Tree...there are no less than six Istvan’s (Stephen’s )...since 1687. I’m the sixth. There are three within the remaining cousins...hence the nicknames. Istvan is a common name. Interestingly...Stephen/Istvan means crown or king...in Greek. Sometime later...The rain has arrived. Some lightning...got one shot...missed a much better one. Time to switch off... Velence...July 29th 2007. Did the valley of death this morning. Got a few good shots...printed a few. Clouded over...in the end. Time has passed. Anci and Cila brought Nikki over for a photograph...all dressed up in her bride’s maid dress. Did the shoot with the Nikor 80-200 2 8. Took her out into the street...to which she exclaimed...”what...out in the street?” Oh...Used my patented soft focus 135mm 3 5...with flash. Printed two. Look good. Pygmalion strikes again. TTPTP... Velence...July 30th 2007. It’s raining! This is a good thing. Later back to bed. Later yet...a big lunch for me...now a second cup of Java...heated in the microwave...since the coffee maker is a mishmash of parts and doesn’t keep the made coffee hot. Thoughts on the Skeleton Field photos of yesterday. I got the classic sunflower shots I’d wanted. The light was about as good as one could ask for...and there were plenty of sunflowers...and a great background...in this case the village of Nadap...with the requisite church steeple. Friederike Suite...Minuet, Intermezzo and Polka playing... A number of months ago Jutka took me up into the hills one hot day. She led me over hill and dale. At one point we stopped to talk to an old gentleman...later to find out that he was her godfather. Well now...there I was at the Valley of Death...scanning the horizon for shots. A hill. Vinyards...a house...trees...good light. Take shots...as the light changes more shots. Back here...pick one shot to print...print. Later show Istvan who happened to be passing through. Thinks the shot is great...yes it is say I. Goes on to tell me about the resident of the house...etc...etc...in the end adding that it’s Jutka’s godfather! Gads...I thought...so that’s where we were...way over there months back. It all came together. When they stop laughing at your jokes...it’s all over...Hahahhahahaa. Think about it though...they have to not laugh...consciously on purpose...even if it’s damn funny. I mean what(?)...“damn that was funny...but don’t laugh...what ever you do...in fact put on your shit face...just to really stick it in.“ Or your jokes were never funny to begin with. Innocence is pure. Never underestimate stupidity...it has no limits. Those that don’t know...guess. And wrongly think that everyone else does too. The past has passed. The reason you can’t eat just one cashue is because you don’t want too. The chicken crossed the road because...it’s there. It’s later... Pityu, Istvan and Layos paid a visit. Pityu brought his coins. I showed Lajos the photos of his daugther Nikki. Liked them...I offered him the option of taking them...but they all said I should wait...The girls will come here. OK. Then as I’m scarfing down some dinner...I look out the window to see sunshine spotlighting the opposite shore. Real low sun angle. Grab the 200 and pull the 80-200 off...slap it onto the 300 2 8 still mounted to the big Slik...and out onto the patio. Get off a few rounds. It had been over cast all day...so the sun was a surprise. The distent horizon was a deep red/orange. Had a faraway...long ago feel to it. A lone fisherman in his boat...small...dark...vague...silhouetted against the redish water. Sometime later... TTPTS... Velence...July 31st 2007. Well now... Today dawned clear and cool. Waited for the Starlings over flight...but either it had already happened or some other place...though I did see some on the distant horizon. Fakata Tamas...Thomas Black...has been telling me of a place down the road past the “tractors”...that has lots of birds to hear him say it. After returning from a bit of quick shopping...I decided to try out a bike path leading off around the shore of the lake. The trial was paved for a part of the way...then a rutted car width sandy stretch...then just a foot/bike trail...ending at the sport complex. An Olympic class rowing site. I was forced off to the right...and right again at a road that would ultimately lead back here. I hadn’t gone too far when up ahead I could see the “tractor” place. Sure enough...just before you get there...is an open field. I walked the bike around the closed gate onto the field. Finish this tomorrow... Entry dated Dec 9, 2007: I took in the view and was not impressed...at all. I mean where were all the birds...etc. I did see a few...but noting to write home about...but I went farther onto the field...figuring that I should give it my best evaluation. So it was...that about half way my eye caught a shape on the ground. It was circular...and as I got closer...it resolved into a large...coin...for lack of a better term. It was visible as a result off rain...having washed away the sand. Just visible on the up turned face was what looked to be a Greek figure! My heart thumped! Naturally I picked it up. Later I took a photo of the spot where I found it. Later yet...I joke with Pityu and Istvan...that after I had seen Pityu’s coins...that I thought...hey!...I can find coins too. And did. It turns out that the “coin” was some sort of sports medal...without any inscription nor date. Anci, Cila, and the two girl came by for a show and tell...Talked... laughed...told my story above...took the two photographs and left. TTPTP Velence...August 2nd 2007. Yesterday I finally got around to going to Anci’s and pick up a few items. A patio table and chair. The Kenwood R-2000...A book on Hungarian history...a Hungarian to English dictionary. The ultrasonic cleaner...to try an clean the medal I found the day before. The patio furniture need to be cleaned too and I set about doing just that when Istvan showed up. Asked him if it was possible to get some water flowing out of the faucet. He set to work to get that done...and sometime later Pityu and Lajos showed up. By that time the table and chair were already up on the patio so we were able to hang out up there. I told them the story of the medal...and later drug out my old paper monies. I got a history lesson from Istvan and Pityu regarding the bills. Now for the interesting part. I was given these bills may decades ago by the OL. One of the bill was a smallish...near mint condition Turkish One Lirasi. I remember examining it and discovering that it had been printed in England. When I asks the lads where they thought the Hungarian bills were printed they said Hungary. Though I’m not sure of that...I dug out the Turkish bill...to show them that not all countries had printed there own monies. Before handing over the bill...I took a close look at the line of text at the very bottom of the bill...where I knew would be the origin of printing...to make sure I knew what I was talking about. GADS! I read the line the second time...Brabury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd. Then the rest...wait for it...NEW MALDON, SURREY, ENGLAND! It turns out that New Maldon is visable from were I had lived in Berrylands...a veritable stones throw. Much later... TTPTS Velence...August 7th 2007. It’s the start of another bloody hot day. Have done the ISS (International Space Station) the last three day. Two nights ago Pityu, Cila and Istvan observed it with me. I took a number of frames. Some ok. The world doesn’t realize that everything American does not translate well. Take a drive-in like McDonalds for example. In England you will find a McDonalds in the middle of the block(!)...nothing more than a veritable hole in the wall. The whole idea it to be able to “drive-in” or through should you chose to. Well...that would take a car. You drive to it...having already decided to park or drive through. Parking should not be a major problem of logistics...as in how far away you’ll find a place to park much less how much time it will take to walk there and back. The whole idea is “in and out”. The original drive-ins were places to hang out...”in your car”. The car was the key issue. A culture based on the car. You had a car and “made the scene”. To see and be seen. And you could eat without leaving your car. After all...what’s the point of getting out of your car...to then sit inside some place without your symbol...your car. Later in the day. Now it’s a thunderstorm. Cooler. Got off a few frames. Should be interesting. Need to make a run to the store. Will wait for the threat of rain to subside. Got knocked offline. Later yet. This morning...about midnight I was locking up. I heard a strange sound but went on with the business at hand. Then I heard voices...and looked out to see what was happening. It turns out that the sound that I’d heard was a body hitting concrete...having fallen 8-9 feet from the second floor balcony. She was naked except for bikini panties. The guy looking over her was nude. Ultimately a call was placed and emergency services arrived...though slower than I would have expected. Sari and Pityu showed up...and then Cila. After they left I just had time to try a few frames with the MTO 1000mm...on the ISS. Not good enough. I may have the second of two...this one being the worst. Tomorrow STS-118 is to be launched and there should be a chance to see and photograph both. Fingers crossed. There is another ISS pass in 27 minutes. Thinking. A bit later. Just back from observing ISS with the 11x80s. A bit later...TPPTS... Velence...August 8th 2007. Winds are picking up...heard some distant thunder. Went into Feharvar with Jutka today...took care of some business...and bought a small (14 inch) TV...while she was off taking care of her business. Did I mention that the discone is up and functioning. Strange that I’m picking up the polar sats outside my supposed radio horizon...given an overestimated 300 meter elevation. This happens only to the south. Think I’ll see what GPS says. BIAF. Velence...August 9th 2007. GPS says 114 meters...give or take. We’ve had some rain today...thunderstorm. Nice. Django Reinhardt in the background... Well damn...the MTO 1000mm that’s here is number one of two after all. The damn thing is I must have taken it apart back in UK Land...and never put the last two screws back in. I found two unaccounted for screws on the bench...and put them safe just before the move. I knew that I’d taken photos of lens one when I first got it...and as luck would have it the serial number is just visible and matches the one here. It was the best of the two...so now I’m surprised that the shots of ISS the other night were so poor. AND then...STS-118 is in orbit as I write...and there would be good opportunity to observe it and ISS at the same time if it weren’t for the clouds. Well...one hour till the next pass...the clouds may move off. Got an email from my friend Bill...with some attached photos of a hummingbird. Damn nice shots! I owe him a longer email back. Getting these pages onto my website will take some doing since it’s on this machine...and my internet access is on the laptop. Later... Back from the shore...shooting lightning strikes over the lake...got two...one good. I was driven back by rain and a low battery...should have taken the spare. STS and ISS a bust...clouds. TTPTS Velence...August 10th 2007. I’m thinking about where I shall end up...given a month and then some...closer to two. I mean this is ok but not great and the thought of going back to Jutka’s...as is the plan...leaves me wanting. It’s the lack of permanence...not “my” place...space. Everyone has been most helpful...and generous...but not overly so. Velence...August 11th 2007. Afternoon... Up till past midnight...last night...this morning...watching a full blown thunderstorm. It really came down for awhile. Meteor shower on for tomorrow...and next morning. Hope for clear skies. Pityu came around looking for Jutka who’s car was blocking the drive...and not finding her here...suspected that she was visiting next door. Talked...left. Later...Jutka came by to tell me that Pityu had been looking for her since her car was blocking the drive...and that she had been visiting next door. Sorry but I’ve been reading Catch-22...and the dialog just creeps in... Then asked to take some of my photos for a “show and tell” at her place. I gave her the latest photos from here...the US...and UK...collections. Something about a lady photog...does ad work...took shots on the shore yesterday...not a good day for it if you ask me...etc. Should be interesting feedback. I’m listening to some old midi format music that I’d not played in a long while...Still like them...in a sense...charming...simple. I came across them while looking for some photos of the (old Tuba) wine cellar taken a number of years ago. Love working like this. Free again. There is guy out in the field opposite with a horse and wagon. Gads. Took a few frames with the MTO 1000mm. And then when the wagon was on the move with the 300 2 8...But I had not switched back to auto focus...DUH. Velence...August 12th 2007. It’s overcast...like all day and now a drizzle. So much for the meteor shower tonight. Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11...The Rondo...in the background... I’m going back to re-read the page...to make correction and additions. Back in a flash...almost... Some time later...I’ve drained the last of the Baileys... I like the stuff but never thought I’d be taking a shower in it. After pouring out the last drop...I capped the bottle and upended it...to get the absolute last...which I’d consume later. Later arrived... The bottle had been in the fridge... Boom...it went...with the last of it all over the place and me. Back to the re-read. Sometime later...Done deal. Slavonic Dances in the background...MIDI. The rain has stopped for now...not holding out any hope for clear skies. Just my luck. Took some test shots with the MTO 1000mm. Added a fourth leg to dampen out any vertical movement. Plan to try sand bags next. The test shots showed that there was evidence of thermal effect over the distance which could be close to a mile. TTPTP... Velence...August 13th 2007. Up at 0630...now afternoon. Started reading Cornwell’s The Grail Quest. Good start...fits my mood. I was going to go to Anci’s in the cool of the morning...but now after having gone to the store...it’s too warm...on and off. Dundee has been down since 0000hrs the 11th...so no Metoesat images to check the weather. Sorted through boxes of prints...weeding out the one’s I’m not interested in showing. There were some A4s that I’ll put aside. There are a number of images I will get around to printing one of these day...but it doesn’t feel right...yet. Shots taken with the MTO 1000mm...long distance stuff...very far away...moody. The setting for Cornwell’s book is England/France...1342. That’s 345 years before the birth of Tuba Samu...25 years (about one generation) farther back than from his birth till today...making it about 15 generation ago. I wonder where “he” lived. Who was his mate. All the usual questions. 1342 was right in the middle (1301-1382) of what’s been called The Age of The Angevines. The area of Hungary...at that time...was more than five times larger than now. The ruler...The Angevine Charles Robert (Charles I) of Hungary died June 16, 1342. He was half French, half Hungarian. Much later...And I’m getting set for the off peak portion of the meteor shower...It’s clearing to the east. Later yet...Just brought in the Celestron 2000mm having shot Jupiter. Then clouds appeared. Gads. Had to make a smokes run too. In 22 minutes the ISS+STS-118 will be on close approach. Should try the MTO 1000mm again. This may be the closest yet...which I figure has been the problem with my shots so far...not close enough. The only problem with this pass is that it’s lights out when just overhead. Not a good pass. 17 minutes... Should remove the 10-20mm and replace it with the MTO...on the large Slik...will do now. Back later... Later...it’s tomorrow...0200hrs! Velence...August 14th 2007. From last night into the early hours of this morning I was out under the stars. Clouds receded making for viable conditions. Took many frames with the Sigma 10-20mm for the meteor shots...later switched to an old Nikor 50 1 4...interesting...and later still to the 300 2 8...for close ups of the Andromeda Galaxy...did the Pleiades too. I’d always been envious of the eminent writer of Ingalls three volume set...Amateur Telescope Making. The authors lived at a time when the skies were truly dark. Many grew up and lived is rural settings...Just a matter of stepping outside...and there would be the star studded sky...the Milky Way...bright...Andromeda Galaxy...visible to the naked eye. This morning was my first time experiencing anything close to what they would have seen. Great fun...and will do it as often as possible...perhaps find a more remote site...as there was some light pollution all around. The sky was not truly black...a dark grey. I did see a few satellites...and a few meteors...not worth writing home about. Shot a large number of frames...tossed most. The next project will be to set up the equatorial mount...do a polar alignment...and blast away with what ever lens suits the moment...taking longer exposures than the 30 seconds I’ve limited myself too so far. Oh...I’ve also noticed that...well...uh...OK fine...I’ve got a case of the dreaded...HOT Pixels...there I’ve said it! Camera frame count is now over 25,000. Velence...August 15th 2007. Start of another hot day. I can seen that I’ll not get much done outside...But I am set up to shoot a Woodpecker that frequents the same tree...from a doorway. Thought I’d try the 300 2 8 with a 1.4x extender. The Tamron this time...Same problem as with the Sigma...hunting focus. Gone to manual. Did the same thing yesterday...the woodpecker...and got a printable shot. I was up a 0230hrs. Went outside and took a look at the stars. They were all there. Jutka came by yesterday to return my photos. She said they said...that I must have some very expensive (photo) equipment. Nothing about the photos themselves. Figures. The other day Anci showed up to return my key to Jutka’s house. She had come over two days before to get it...since Jutka was locked out. Anci thought of it...getting my key...after reconsidering the use of a scaling ladder through the breach of her open bedroom window...taking into consideration the recent tumble onto concrete by my neighbor. I don’t know what the big deal is...E=MC^2. It’s just another “3 banger”. The power variant of Ohm’s Law...is P=RI^2...I rest my case. Did you ever notice that Superman is never called as a witness...nor jury duty? Speaking of which...What’s the purpose of the cape...anyway? Velence...August 17th 2007. Yesterday evening brought the ISS+STS-118 into the most favorable position to date and I was successful in photographing it, resulting in my best images ever. The two large solar panels were clearly visible. The docked Shuttle was less discernable because of orientation. I took great care in pre-focusing the MTO 1000mm on some stars. I had on more that one occasion found myself re-focusing during a pass...not a good idea! AND on top of that I just noticed that where I thought infinity focus was...is not so. I have to check this out. The Russian lens did well. MTO stands for Maksutov Tele Optic...referring to the optical design. Would love to do it again with the Celestron C8. The images would be twice as large...and higher resolution. Today will be hot again. The barometer has been stuck for the last two months...moving only slightly now and then. I need to do some research on equatorial mount orientations for ISS orbits...so I only have to move in one dimension. Also a better arrangement for shooting straight up. Tripod mounted, it’s nearly impossible to shoot straight up. When I looked at the first results...I was amazed to say the least. It’s what I had hoped for from the beginning...but never got. It’s been in the back of my mind that I should forget about approach shots and concentrate only on those just before overhead and after...and on those orbits that will in fact be nearly overhead. Slant angle shots just don’t cut it. Velence...August 18th 2007. Well here I am again waiting for the next ISS...38 minutes to go. The orbit will be a good one...very close to an overhead pass...and I will be able to shot from the balcony. The only complication will be the clouds to the west...and approaching. I wonder if I should change my exposure...from ISO 1600 at 1/1000 seconds to ISO 800...and reduce the grain a bit? The MTO is claimed to be f/10...but I rate it as an f/11. Got to remember to check focus...again. I see Jupiter...out the window to my left...is shining. First target for focus. A crescent moon is low to the southwest. Yesterday evening Pityu dropped by with the extension cord I asked for...and we ended up talking for two hours. 28 minutes! That’s to my radio horizon. I normally look for the ISS when it’s 20° above...but the other day...I saw it much lower...maybe 10°. This morning I spotted a squirrel...the first I’ve seen here. Dark little sucker...munching on almonds...right off the tree. 24 minutes! Time for a SB. 12 minutes! Fortified with a glass of house wine...I’m set. 2 minutes! Then another 5 for it to be overhead. RIGHT...it’s above the horizon...back when I’m back. Back...and a quick look shows the shots to be great! Velence...August 20th 2007. In the middle of a thunderstorm. I’m back from lunch with Jutka... Hungary is celebrating it’s birthday. A thousand years plus. Last night I got a shot of the setting crescent moon. It was real low in the western sky...could hardy see it. Yesterday I got an email from my friend Bill...wherein he informed me that Mary Lou had been diagnosed with brain cancer. DAMN! The doctors hold out hope for their treatment thereof. DAMN! Jutka is setting the stage...as I write...for my return to her place. Gads! That was close. (Lightning.) I printed a shot that I took sometime ago...and always liked the look of. The print is close to what I saw. The scene looks like a tabletop model. A toy. And again the 300 2 8 came through. Velence...August 23rd 2007. I fired up the film scanner yesterday. The day before that Jutka and I went up to the Tuba Wine Cellar. She’s snagging me into doing some work...namely the door...in preparation for some festivities next month...or the next after that...I didn’t make a note of it. Anyway...on the way back we stopped at Anci’s...where I grabbed a box of negatives. One negative I came across this morning was a shot of Bonnie. Perk and Bonnie...just an odd length of film...a few random shots. It’s a candid photograph...which is unusual...all the other shots of her were part of a photo shoot...always “on”. Velence...August 24th 2007. It’s noon...and another bloody hot day. The family has gone to Lake Balaton. I opted not to go. Yesterday I had just seen the 1800GMT (at 2000hrs local) satellite shot and noted that there was a major cloud formation over the southern part of Balaton. The evening was still hot and so I sat out on the balcony scanning the horizon. I soon noted that the sky in the direction of Balaton was lighting up with flashes of lightning. Not just one area but all of the southwest. A bit later...the wind picked up. I called Jutka and told her of my observations. She normally battens down the hatches with a threat of heavy rain. She said she would. Hang up. Back outside... The wind picked up again with strong gusts. The frequency of lightning increased. And it was moving this way. Wind much stronger now...lightning flashes...4 per second all over the southwest sky. Getting closer. I then notice...on the southwest horizon ...that the lights are out and there two plumes of smoke...red in color. Call Jutka again. Tell her...She says that she hasn’t yet started to button thing up. Gads! I guess she didn’t take my prognosis serious. I tell her I’m out there taking photographs. Hang up. Back outside. The wind is now getting really serious! I had turned all the balcony furniture against the wall...neatly in a row. I even had the presence of mind to take in the big glass ashtray...thinking! I then ran around the house closing windows and doors. Then with the wind continuing to get even stronger...CRASH...BANG...out on the balcony. I’m still inside trying to close windows that won’t stay closed. DAMN. Finally I go back out. All the furniture it piled up on the east side...My discone antenna is still up...just. I leave the furniture where it ended up...continue to shoot frames. I think I hear the phone...look inside and sure as hell it is. It’s Jutka telling me that she’d being delayed buttoning up because of high winds...NO(!) kidding I think...Tell her I’m out there shooting...she tells me to get inside...and that there is lightning all around! Couldn’t prove it by me... Tell her it’s started to rain...and that I am going in because of it. The rain hits. Lightning all over the sky...5 a second...a flash somewhere all the time...heavy rain...strong gusts. Then...I see a flutter of wings...It’s a Swallow seeking refuge...making no headway against the wind...and settles on the window ledge facing into the wind. I talk to it. It doesn’t say a word back. Take a survey of the damage. Gads...the pile of furniture is one piece shy. I’ll look for the chair later. Later... Gads it’s on the ground a good twenty feet to the east...I’ll go got it later. Later... GADS!...what the hell...there is my birdbath...also...in two pieces! Broken...the bowl snapped right off the stem. And the bowl is broken too. Velence...August 26h 2007. The Sun rose right on time this morning. I’ve moved all the radio clocks across the room. Yesterday all four were locked and tracking nicely. Velence...September 6th 2007. Well...the grape harvest is in as of yesterday. Spent the whole day as part of the “crew”. Mostly family with a number of friends. Started at 0800hrs...and by 1900hrs the pressing was almost done. The harvest was a poor one owing to improper or non existent spaying...by others. Took a number of photos...naturally. The only good news was that the weather held. Sunny by midday...and on. Tired today. Have not been inspired to write. The latest news is that my car is at last fixed...but has a dead battery. And now I wait for the hammer to drop on how much it will cost...and how it will get here. It’s been a real debacle...to say the least. Velence...October 19th 2007. Big gap in time! Feel guilty about not writing my friend Bill. Gads. Not much to say. The weather has turned colder. Still in a quandary about the next move...another major headache. The car is still in UK land...parked on the street with a dead battery. Damn! My internet access is a real bummer. I can count on getting kicked off-line numerous times during a session! And since my access is through the laptop...I don’t get inspired to answer emails...etc...because I can’t type on the small keyboard. I caught some sort of bug the other day. In UK land I would have had a flu shot...done deal. Pityu, Cila, Istvan, Sari...all down with it. Bill asked to read my blog pages...so yesterday I found a printed copy...and read through it. Lots of typos. So I will need to make the correction now. I’ve been scanning some of my old negatives...for possible use on my website. The scanner produces inconsistent results. Something about the sensors I’m sure. Yesterday evening would have been a good one for photographing the ISS...but as I had joked...it was in fact overcast. The next one will be tomorrow...fingers crossed. OH! The plot thickens re the lost city of Tuba in Syria. It turns out that it’s mentioned numerous times in the Ebla texts...(a city not far from Tuba...where some 20,000 clay tablets were found). Also I did a GS for “Tuba Syria” and got a map of Syria showing the location of Tuba...but I think it’s a town or village...now...with that name. But it’s located in the same area as the old lost city. Will need to dig around some more. The other interesting thing has to do with the age...2300 BC. That’s the time when the Magyar and Finn languages were to have split. Which was also the time that the city...was abandoned, sacked, destroyed. The location is also good from the genealogy stand point...for R1a1 Haplogroup. Oh...I’ve finished transcribing the Jarfas side of the family tree. Cila has come up with more data for the Tuba side...and that is now also on a spreadsheet. She has a printout...and will make any correction. Oh...regarding the name “Tuba”: It’s been posited that perhaps it’s as simple as the name of the instrument...not! The Tuba was invented in 1835...in Berlin. We now have records dating to 1644...a one Tuba Balazs. That’s one generation back from Tuba Samu...dated 1687. Anyway...I’ll save this...and copy it over onto a flash card...and then attach it to an email...for Bill. Done deal. Velence...October 21st 2007. A sad fact is that people that see conspiracies all over the place...like the American’s never having gone to the moon...don’t realize that the mechanics of said conspiracy take more effort than the real thing. I bring up this subject because it...well...bugs me no end...how easily people are willing to believe absurdities. The other day it was the result of having seen...on TV...the bit about the letter “C” being visible on a rock...or as it goes...a none rock...that was supposed to have been placed face down...on the moon landing set. Well now...think about...There is the crew of maybe ten guys placing all the props...and their supervisor. And there would be another ten or so guys placing lights and running wire...and their supervisor. And there would be another crew hoisting the moon lander. There would be guys bringing in and spreading the fake moon dust...under the direction of the set designer. There would have been...at some point photographers taking progress shots...and test shots to see how the whole thing looked. Oh...there would be a crew...working with the photographer...setting up the...wait for it...single, very high powered light source...simulating the Sun. There would need to be an astronomer on hand to make sure that the light was set at the precise height and angle...as it changes second by second. We wouldn’t want someone later calculating said height and angle...and declaring the photographs as fake...now would we? This light source would have to be the same size and brightness as the apparent size and brightness of the Sun. If it were not as bright...or just the right size...someone could calculate...the depth of field...in the published photos...and conclude that they were fake...based on the fact that the lens aperture was opened wider than had it truly been taken on the Moon. So let’s see...have we got all the components together? Perhaps it would be best to lay out a time line of events...the various task that would have to be done. Find a place large enough to house the set. Shouldn’t be a problem...plenty of old unused hanger about. Get security worked out. Raising the question of a total sequestering of personnel...a closed base...for the duration...or fly them in and out as they were doing at the infamous Area 52...Groom Lake? Or for that matter...why not do it at Area 52? Mmmm? Work up a list of personnel required for the various tasks. Arrange for security clearances...and decide what levels. Those working at the later stages would have to have higher clearances. The guys delivering the fake moon dust wouldn’t need one at all...possibly. Where as the ones spreading it about the set...would. Speaking of which...the fake moon dust...as I understand it has a consistency of pumas or flour...and it’s very tenacious. Interestingly...the moon reflects light by the same amount as a standard 17% gray card used by photographers to simulate an average scene here on Earth...so you could not use ordinary white flour. And there is the problem of how the spread it out to make a believable moonscape. Arrange for various cranes to hoist the large components...and astronauts on and off the set(s). Some of the work may well have to be done from a crane mounted platform...we can’t have tennis shoe prints all over place...now can we? Time will be critical in as mush as the “live” video broadcasts...or think about shooting the scenes...and playing back recordings for the public. Pick a crew to stand in for the real astronauts. Think about having to use the real controller...since their voices are known to the public...or get the real astronauts to do it...and get stand-ins to suit up and walk to the launch pad...waving to the crowds...visors down. And then launch an empty space craft(?)...but wait...what if the launch goes bad...and the craft splashes down in the Atlantic recovery area...and the Navy...find nobody in the capsule. So...what(?)...launch with fake astronauts onboard...and then have the launch go bad...and have the Navy find the imposters onboard. Either way...the Navy would have to be in on the charade from the beginning. On the other hand...as I recall...the spacecraft made an orbit or so around the Earth before heading for the Moon. Would you risk three lives...just to fake a launch? Better yet...launch an empty spacecraft...circle the Earth a few times...then bring it back...pretend to do a recovery...by simply taking the impostor astronauts out on the recovery ship...and put them secretly onboard one of the helicopters...have that helicopter go out in advance of the real recovery team...dump them in the sea...and wait for the others to arrive. This also bring up the question of exactly when you confide in the astronauts the truth. I mean...were the Mercury launches real? What about the Gemini program? Were the Apollo astronauts told early on that they would not in fact make it to the moon...that it would be faked here on Earth...on a fake set...at some as yet unknown abandoned airbase. And if told early...that they were to continue with their normal training...and the photo ops for public consumption. Ok...so there we are...the fake moon dust has been brought in and spread around...and landscaped...to look like the moon...as though one knew what it really looked like. Then placing the fake stones and boulders...by crane...otherwise you have to redo the landscape again...with everyone watching. Yes...that stone goes there...that boulder over there and so on...and with the standard admonition...of “make sure the letters are face down“. These being the letters that were painted on each stone and boulder...which designated their location...based on a girded map of some sort. This would...of necessity be a labor intensive operation. Think about it...there could easily have been a few hundred objects to place. Ok fine...so there we are placing these fake stones and boulders...with more that a dozen people watching every move...when the large stone labeled “C” is being placed. This raises the question of what order these object would place...alphabetically perhaps...Then you would have to believe that the third object placed...the one labeled “C”...was placed letter showing...AND NO ONE CAUGHT IT! Not any of the crew...not a single supervisor...not a photographer...NO ONE! Time passes...days if not weeks...go by...and again, during all the opportunities to view the set...does anyone spot the big letter “C” painted on the fake large rock? NO! Photos are taken to show progress...and the photographers take a bunch of photos...changing angles...and exposures just to see the effect. They turn the negatives over to the photo lab...and they develop and make a number of sets of prints. Note, that colors positive film was also used. Anyway...the lab personnel look over the prints...with instructions to find any faults with the results...no matter how small or insignificant it may seem...SUCH AS...if the painted letters identifying each rock and boulder were visible. NOPE...the prints all pass the scrutiny...and are passes on up the line...where...NOT ONE person so much as asks what the letter “C” is doing in frame so and so. Now...we have another problem...The Brits are...as always...interested in this kind of stuff...and have let it be known that they intend to track and monitor the transmissions emanated by the space craft in flight and from the moon...using their large dish antenna at Jodrel Bank. These transmissions would be the telemetry, voice and video signals that would normally be sent back to earth. They would in effect listen in on what’s going on. What to do? It would mean shooting all the fake video ahead of the flight...placing the...at the time large and heavy video...playback unit onto the spacecraft...and launch it. You would use the normal telemetry from the command module during the trip...but from the Lander once there on the surface...and there you have it. The Brits will confirm that there are in fact signals coming from the moon. I have no idea how much tape it would have taken to provide a continuous stream of data and video for the entire time that the lander was on the moons surface...but it would have been an unimaginably large amount...weighing more than the astronauts and perhaps more than could have been sent up in the first place. The tape deck would have to be huge...to accommodate a reel of tape sufficient for the duration of the stay. There is now another problem. The moon lander cannot crash! Why you ask? Well...if it crashed...then the astronauts would either die on impact...or...and this gets very tricky...there would have to be communications with Earth...to the effect that they have a problem...and they would in fact die sometime later. Hence the real astronauts...still here on Earth...would have to go into hiding...new identities...the whole nine yards...never to be heard from again...along with their families! If the telemetry showed that, the craft survived the crash...but damaged to the extent that it would never take off again...then the video and dialog between the moon and Earth would have to match the facts. So...you say...Well...why couldn’t they shoot video...on the fake set...covering just such an event? I guess you could...but you’d have to write a complete script for all the possible circumstances and ask only those questions for which the appropriate responses had been scripted. This doesn’t come close to the problem of cueing up the tape fast enough to make it sound real. As I remember...The Brits copied the transmissions from the moon. And I suspect that the Soviets did too. But you say...ok...the Americans did launch a spacecraft...it did go to the moon...BUT...they never actually landed. Well...nice try...I say...But what was the spacecraft doing once at the moon...just sitting there? No...it would have to have been in orbit around the moon...spending half the time behind it...half in front facing Earth. Transmissions could not be received while the spacecraft was behind the moon...and both the Brits and Soviets would have reported it as such...GURENTEED! Unless...they were in on it too! The Soviets would have had a field day for its propaganda value...and I think the Brits for technical capability...and perhaps as an unofficial umpire. And on top of all that...of course you would now have to destroy all the film images you’ve shot on the fake set...and get this...NEVER let a single photo get out! So!...There we have it...all the way down from the President...Secretary of Defense...the Joint Chiefs of the Staff (military)...a number of select Admirals and their commands...down to Captains of the various ships...the pilots of the recovery aircraft...the paramedics plunging into the water...all in on it. Then the entire crew setting up the fake moonscape...The photographer...the lab technicians. The governments of at least three countries...and who knows who else...ALL IN ON IT. Wouldn’t it be easier to just do what you’d set out to do...Go to the moon...land...and come back with real photos...as they did. And that on a given frame there is an odd looking shadow that looks oddly like the letter “C”...SO WHAT? This reminds of the “Face on Mars” conspiracy. Yeah right. An orbiting spacecraft images a land formation on Mars...that granted...looks...under the prevailing lighting conditions...like a human face. Ok fine...Why not say...”Oh...look at that...how interesting!” No...it’s a construct of some civilization! And as proof...that NASA et al...refuse to take better images...since they know the truth. Well here we go again. It’s got to be more complex...the simple “truth” is just not good enough. NASA or whom ever controlled the spacecraft said in effect that they had no intentions of re-imaging that piece of Mars...just to satisfy the CTs (conspiracy theorists). Well that did it...The CTs had a great time with it...BUT then a year or so later...the now famous Martian constructed landform WAS re-imaged...and guess what...on the latest much higher resolution images it’s impossible to find anything that remotely looks like anything other that what it was all along...just a bit of oddly shaped land that yes...under certain lighting conditions and low resolution...did look like a face. So what? There is a coffee table book published a number of years ago full of images of Earth taken from space. I’ve forgotten its name. But I remember scanning it one day...and on a frame of ice flows in the arctic regions...there was a face...in the ice...that was many, many times better than the face seen in the Mars photo. I never heard anyone talking about the “Face in the Ice”. I wonder why? Well now...could it be that since the photo was probably dated...that there would be no trace of it now...hence no use going around claiming a cover up...I mean it could have been the manifestation by the ancient Atlantisites...as a sign the they were now residing in the arctic regions...and for us to come and visit. This was one place that would have been possible to locate...and actually go there and see for yourself...NO? I guess not! Had the same image been take in the Martian polar region...it would have been a sensation...I kid you not! Just for the hell of it...it would have been great fun to have slipped that image in with the other Mars photos...just to see what would have happened...wait a year or so...and then reveal the true origin. Then again...Flash on this... The ice face photo is mixed in with the Mars images...and the CTs are on it in a heart beat...ok...fine. Then you reveal the true location. Would the CTs confer onto it the same “logic”...that is...that a civilization constructed it...ok...not on Mars...be here on Earth? Or is their “logic” selective...and as I stated above...no longer there...and soon forgotten. I would love to hear the “explanation“. It’s been a coldish day...here on the Lake. I did have to make a run to the store. No big deal. I’ve not been online all day...now almost 1800hrs. I feel a bit better...I’ve taken three hits of some medicine that Cila was kind enough to bring me the other da |